Jack Daniel’s Racing confirms endurance line-up

Jack Daniel’s Racing has confirmed that David Russell and Tim Blanchard will join the team for this year’s Sandown and Bathurst endurance races.

Russell, who drives in the squad’s Dunlop Series team under the Dreamtime Racing banner, will share the #15 entry with Rick Kelly, while Blanchard will join Todd Kelly in car #7.

Both drivers were a part of Kelly Racing’s endurance effort last year, with Russell seeing the continuity as a strength this time around.

“It’s great to be back in the JD garage that is for sure,” said Russell, who co-drove with Todd Kelly last year.

“It’s good to have that continuity. I have been in the cars before, but obviously there’s a switch this year to partner Rick which is something I am relishing.”

Russell and Blanchard are among 25 co-drivers set to turn laps at Phillip Island tomorrow in the lead-up to this weekend’s Phillip Island 300.

“This weekend is all about getting a base setup for Todd for the rest of the meeting,” said Blanchard, who currently sits fifth in the 2012 Dunlop Series points standings, where he drives a Matthew White Motorsport prepared Ford.

“It also gives me the opportunity to get used to driving one of the Kelly Racing cars against a full field of V8s.”

Although yet to be confirmed, Owen Kelly and Daniel Gaunt are expected to complete the four-car Kelly Racing squad’s endurance roster, and will both suit-up for the team at Phillip Island tomorrow.